the　life　led　by　the　two；　father　and　daughter；　that　they　showed
  themselves　only　at　a　few　official　receptions　and；　at　certain　times
  in　the　year；　in　two　or　three　friendly　drawing…rooms；　where　the　fame
  of　the　professor　and　the　beauty　of　Mathilde　made　a　sensation。　　The
  young　girl's　extreme　reserve　did　not　at　first　discourage　suitors；
  but　at　the　end　of　a　few　years；　they　tired　of　their　quest。
  One　alone　persisted　with　tender　tenacity　and　deserved　the　name　of
  〃eternal　fiance；〃　a　name　he　accepted　with　melancholy　resignation；
  that　was　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac。　　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　was　now
  no　longer　young；　and　it　seemed　that；　having　found　no　reason　for
  marrying　at　five…and…thirty；　she　would　never　find　one。　　But　such　an
  argument　evidently　found　no　acceptance　with　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac。
  He　continued　to　pay　his　court　…　if　the　delicate　and　tender　attention
  with　which　he　ceaselessly　surrounded　this　woman　of　five…and…thirty
  could　be　called　courtship　…　in　face　of　her　declared　intention　never
  to　marry。
  Suddenly；　some　weeks　before　the　events　with　which　we　are　occupied；
  a　report　…　to　which　nobody　attached　any　importance；　so　incredible
  did　it　sound　…　was　spread　about　Paris；　that　Mademoiselle　Stangerson
  had　at　last　consented　to　〃crown〃　the　inextinguishable　flame　of
  Monsieur　Robert　Darzac！　　It　needed　that　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac
  himself　should　not　deny　this　matrimonial　rumour　to　give　it　an
  appearance　of　truth；　so　unlikely　did　it　seem　to　be　well　founded。
  One　day；　however；　Monsieur　Stangerson；　as　he　was　leaving　the　Academy
  of　Science；　announced　that　the　marriage　of　his　daughter　and　Monsieur
  Robert　Darzac　would　be　celebrated　in　the　privacy　of　the　Chateau　du
  Glandier；　as　soon　as　he　and　his　daughter　had　put　the　finishing
  touches　to　their　report　summing　up　their　labours　on　the　〃Dissociation
  of　Matter。〃　　The　new　household　would　install　itself　in　the　Glandier；
  and　the　son…in…law　would　lend　his　assistance　in　the　work　to　which
  the　father　and　daughter　had　dedicated　their　lives。
  The　scientific　world　had　barely　had　time　to　recover　from　the　effect
  of　this　news；　when　it　learned　of　the　attempted　assassination　of
  Mademoiselle　under　the　extraordinary　conditions　which　we　have
  detailed　and　which　our　visit　to　the　chateau　was　to　enable　us　to
  ascertain　with　yet　greater　precision。　　I　have　not　hesitated　to
  furnish　the　reader　with　all　these　retrospective　details；　known　to
  me　through　my　business　relations　with　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac。　　On
  crossing　the　threshold　of　The　Yellow　Room　he　was　as　well　posted
  as　I　was。
  CHAPTER　V
  In　Which　Joseph　Rouletabille　Makes　a　Remark　to　Monsieur　Robert
  Darzac　Which　Produces　Its　Little　Effect
  Rouletabille　and　I　had　been　walking　for　several　minutes；　by　the　side
  of　a　long　wall　bounding　the　vast　property　of　Monsieur　Stangerson　and
  had　already　come　within　sight　of　the　entrance　gate；　when　our
  attention　was　drawn　to　an　individual　who；　half　bent　to　the　ground；
  seemed　to　be　so　completely　absorbed　in　what　he　was　doing　as　not　to
  have　seen　us　coming　towards　him。　　At　one　time　he　stooped　so　low　as
  almost　to　touch　the　ground；　at　another　he　drew　himself　up　and
  attentively　examined　the　wall；　then　he　looked　into　the　palm　of　one
  of　his　hands；　and　walked　away　with　rapid　strides。　　Finally　he　set
  off　running；　still　looking　into　the　palm　of　his　hand。　　Rouletabille
  had　brought　me　to　a　standstill　by　a　gesture。
  〃Hush！　　Frederic　Larsan　is　at　work！　　Don't　let　us　disturb　him！〃
  Rouletabille　had　a　great　admiration　for　the　celebrated　detective。
  I　had　never　before　seen　him；　but　I　knew　him　well　by　reputation。
  At　that　time；　before　Rouletabille　had　given　proof　of　his　unique
  talent；　Larsan　was　reputed　as　the　most　skilful　unraveller　of　the
  most　mysterious　and　complicated　crimes。　　His　reputation　was
  world…wide；　and　the　police　of　London；　and　even　of　America；　often
  called　him　in　to　their　aid　when　their　own　national　inspectors　and
  detectives　found　themselves　at　the　end　of　their　wits　and　resources。
  No　one　was　astonished；　then；　that　the　head　of　the　Surete　had；　at　the
  outset　of　the　mystery　of　The　Yellow　Room；　telegraphed　his　precious
  subordinate　to　London；　where　he　had　been　sent　on　a　big　case　of
  stolen　securities；　to　return　with　all　haste。　　Frederic　who；　at　the
  Surete；　was　called　the　〃great　Frederic；〃　had　made　all　speed；
  doubtless　knowing　by　experience　that；　if　he　was　interrupted　in　what
  he　was　doing；　it　was　because　his　services　were　urgently　needed　in
  another　direction；　so；　as　Rouletabille　said；　he　was　that　morning
  already　〃at　work。〃　　We　soon　found　out　in　what　it　consisted。
  What　he　was　continually　looking　at　in　the　palm　of　his　right　hand
  was　nothing　but　his　watch；　the　minute　hand　of　which　he　appeared
  to　be　noting　intently。　　Then　he　turned　back　still　running；　stopping
  only　when　he　reached　the　park　gate；　where　he　again　consulted　his
  watch　and　then　put　it　away　in　his　pocket；　shrugging　his　shoulders
  with　a　gesture　of　discouragement。　　He　pushed　open　the　park　gate；
  reclosed　and　locked　it；　raised　his　head　and；　through　the　bars；
  perceived　us。　　Rouletabille　rushed　after　him；　and　I　followed。
  Frederic　Larsan　waited　for　us。
  〃Monsieur　Fred；〃　said　Rouletabille；　raising　his　hat　and　showing　the
  profound　respect；　based　on　admiration；　which　the　young　reporter　felt
  for　the　celebrated　detective；　〃can　you　tell　me　whether　Monsieur
  Robert　Darzac　is　at　the　chateau　at　this　moment？　　Here　is　one　of　his
  friends；　of　the　Paris　Bar；　who　desires　to　speak　with　him。〃
  〃I　really　don't　know；　Monsieur　Rouletabille；〃　replied　Fred；　shaking
  hands　with　my　friend；　whom　he　had　several　times　met　in　the　course
  of　his　difficult　investigations。　　〃I　have　not　seen　him。〃
  〃The　concierges　will　be　able　to　inform　us　no　doubt？〃　said
  Rouletabille；　pointing　to　the　lodge　the　door　and　windows　of　which
  were　close　shut。
  〃The　concierges　will　not　be　able　to　give　you　any　information；
  Monsieur　Rouletabille。〃
  〃Why　not？〃
  〃Because　they　were　arrested　half　an　hour　ago。〃
  〃Arrested！〃　cried　Rouletabille；　〃then　they　are　the　murderers！〃
  Frederic　Larsan　shrugged　his　shoulders。
  〃When　you　can't　arrest　the　real　murderer；〃　he　said　with　an　air　of
  supreme　irony；　〃you　can　always　indulge　in　the　luxury　of　discovering
  accomplices。〃
  〃Did　you　have　them　arrested；　Monsieur　Fred？〃
  〃Not　I！　　…　I　haven't　had　them　arrested。　　In　the　first　place；　I　am
  pretty　sure　that　they　have　not　had　anything　to　do　with　the　affair；
  and　then　because　…〃
  〃Because　of　what？〃　asked　Rouletabille　eagerly。
  〃Because　of　nothing；〃　said　Larsan；　shaking　his　head。
  〃Because　there　were　no　accomplices！〃　said　Rouletabille。
  〃Aha！　…　you　have　an　idea；　then；　about　this　matter？〃　said　Larsan；
  looking　at　Rouletabille　intently；　〃yet　you　have　seen　nothing；　young
  man　…　you　have　not　yet　gained　admission　here！〃
  〃I　shall　get　admission。〃
  〃I　doubt　it。　　The　orders　are　strict。〃
  〃I　shall　gain　admission；　if　you　let　me　see　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac。
  Do　that　for　me。　　You　know　we　are　old　friends。　　I　beg　of　you；
  Monsieur　Fred。　　Do　you　remember　the　article　I　wrote　about　you　on
  the　gold　bar　case？〃
  The　face　of　Rouletabille　at　the　moment　was　really　funny　to　look　at。
  It　showed　such　an　irresistible　desire　to　cross　the　threshold　beyond
  which　some　prodigious　mystery　had　occurred；　it　appealed　with　so　much
  eloquence；　not　only　of　the　mouth　and　eyes；　but　with　all　its　features；
  that　I　could　not　refrain　from　bursting　into　laughter。　　Frederic
  Larsan；　no　more　than　myself；　could　retain　his　gravity。　　Meanwhile；
  standing　on　the　other　side　of　the　gate；　he　calmly　put　the　key　in
  his　pocket。　　I　closely　scrutinised　him。
  He　might　be　about　fifty　years　of　age。　　He　had　a　fine　head；　his　hair
  turning　grey；　a　colourless　complexion；　and　a　firm　profile。　　His
  forehead　was　prominent；　his　chin　and　cheeks　clean　shaven。　　His　upper
  lip；　without　moustache；　was　finely　chiselled。　　His　eyes　were　rather
  small　and　round；　with　a　look　in　them　that　was　at　once　searching　and
  disquieting。　　He　was　of　middle　height　and　well　built；　with　a　general
  bearing　elegant　and　gentlemanly。　　There　was　nothing　about　him　of
  the　vulgar　policeman。　　In　his　way；　he　was　an　artist；　and　one　felt
  that　he　had　a　high　opinion　of　himself。　　The　sceptical　tone　of　his
  conversation　was　that　of　a　man　who　had　been　taught　by　experience。
  His　strange　profession　had　brought　him　into　contact　with　so　many
  crimes　and　villanies　that　it　would　have　been　remarkable　if　his
  nature　had　not　been　a　little　hardened。
  Larsan　turned　his　head　at　the　sound　of　a　vehicle　which　had　come　from
  the　chateau　and　reached　the　gate　behind　him。　　We　recognised　the　cab
  which　had　conveyed　the　examining　magistrate　and　his　Registrar　from
  the　station　at　Epinay。
  〃Ah！〃　said　Frederic　Larsan；　〃if　you　want　to　speak　with　Monsieur
  Robert　Darzac；　he　is　here。〃
  The　cab　was　already　at　the　park　gate　and　Robert　Darzac　was　begging
  Frederic　Larsan　to　open　it　for　him；　explaining　that　he　was　pressed
  for　time　to　catch　the　next　train　leaving　Epinay　for　Paris。　　Then　he
  recognised　me。　　While　Larsan　was　unlocking　the　gate；　Monsieur　Darzac
  inquired　what　had　brought　me　to　the　Glandier　at　such　a　tragic　moment。
  I　noticed　that　he　was　frightfully　pale；　and　that　his　face　was　lined
  as　if　from　the　effects　of　some　terrible　suffering。
  〃Is　Mademoiselle　getting　better？〃　I　immediately　aske